energy savings at home

Improving your home's energy efficiency with ENERGY STAR can help to lower high energy bills, improve comfort and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Learn about the many ways to save in your home and track your progress with "My ENERGY STAR" - your new dashboard to savings.

new homes & apartments

A new home or apartment that has earned the ENERGY STAR label has undergone a process of inspections, testing, and verification to meet strict requirements set by the US EPA. ENERGY STAR certified homes and apartments use significantly less energy than typical new homes and apartments while delivering better comfort, quality, and durability.

Air Leakage (Qleak):
The percent of the rated airflow of the fan that is required to maintain the applied pressures, accounting for air that leaves or enters through cracks, joints and penetrations in the furnace cabinet rather than through supply and return ducts installed in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.

Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE):
For the exact definition of AFUE, refer to the federal test method 10 CFR Part 430, Appendix N to Subpart B. In general, the percentage of the heat in the incoming fuel which is converted to space heat instead of being lost.

Electronically Commutated Motor (ECM):
High efficiency brushless permanent magnet motor that is electronically controlled to operate over a broad range of speeds, encompassing both constant torque and constant airflow designs.

Residential Furnace:
A heating unit with a heat input rate of less than 225,000 Btu per hour whose function is the combustion of fossil fuel (natural gas, propane, or oil) for space heating with forced hot air. Unit must include burner(s), heat exchanger(s), blower(s) and connections to heating ducts. A heating unit that meets this definition and also provides hot water for domestic or other use may be considered a furnace for purposes of this agreement.